German dishes such as Liverwurst, bratwurst, and Sauerkraut are usually the ones enjoying all the attention from foodies all over the world. However, those who’ve tried German desserts know that Germany has a whole world of sweet treats to offer. From cakes and pastries to cookies, and ice cream desserts, Germany is a cadre of delicious desserts.
You’ll discover that many German desserts that gain popularity are cakes, but there are so many more fruity treats and delectable pastries that you’ll find hard to miss. Check out our list of the top German desserts and pick your favorite treats!
Try These German Desserts
Frankfurter Kranz
Frankfurter Kranz is more than a simple cake in German cuisine—it’s a gateau. It’s been around since the 18th century, helping Germans present something delicious to their guests. There are several layers of buttercream sandwiched between vanilla sponge with a healthy topping of chopped nuts for different layers for this cake.
If you find some jam spread between the layers of buttercream and vanilla sponge, don’t be surprised. It adds to the tart and fruity flavor. Frankfurter Kranz is baked using a circular tray that’s hollowed in the middle.
Apfelstrudel
As the most popular dessert in Germany, Apfelstrudel is an iconic dish. It originates from Austria and remains a famous treat of this region all over the world.
Apple strudel is made with layered pastry and sweet apple fillings. The best part of Apfelstrudel is the hint of cinnamon that makes it a delectable treat after dishes like Sauerbraten and Schnitzel.
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is a popular German dessert, commonly called Black Forest cake. It’s extremely popular in many countries of the world, but the authentic German dessert has its own charm, texture, and flavor.
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is made with buttercream, chocolate sponge, and cherries. Sometimes the cherry spirit is added to the recipe to deepen the flavor. The Black Forest cake originated in the 20th century, and most people believe that it’s a rendition of an earlier recipe where the locals used cream, cherry spirit, and cherries.
Rote Grütze
Rote Grütze is a popular Scandinavian and Northern German dessert. This red fruit jelly dessert is a surprising treat for those who try it for the first time. It’s made of raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, cherries, and red currants. The best way to eat Rote Grütze is to serve it warm when the fruits are still chewable.
There are wide varieties of Rote Grütze in the market, including gooseberry and kiwi, and rhubarb and strawberry. The best way to serve Rote Grütze is with whipped cream or vanilla sauce.
Bayerische Crème
Bayerische Crème is simply Bavarian Cream with as simple a recipe as the name. It’s similar to vanilla cream, popularly used with other sweet treats like chocolate hazelnut cream, coffee, caramel sauce, or fruity berry sauce. Bayerische Crème has been a food staple for almost two centuries.
Eierkuchen mit Apfelmus
Eierkuchen mit Apfelmus is a recipe with pancakes and applesauce. Most countries have their own version of pancakes, and Germany makes theirs like French crepe but thicker. The pancakes are served with applesauce, cinnamon, and sugar.
Despite the traditional recipe, Eierkuchen mit Apfelmus has many variations all the way from the Baltic to Bavaria. You can have the pancake with banana and chocolate sauce or with blueberries and ice cream.
Donauwelle
Donauwelle is called Danube Wave and is made using vanilla and chocolate sponge, cream, and cherries. The bottommost part of the cake is textured as waves. The chocolate and vanilla sponge are swirled to symbolize the waves, and the cherries are added randomly between the two layers. The topping of Donauwelle is vanilla custard or buttercream.
Adding a layer of chocolate icing gives Donauwelle a perfect finish. When you bite into this cake, you get an explosion of chocolate and vanilla sponge, cream, cherries, and chocolate icing.
Spaghettieis
Spaghettieis is a dessert loved by all, regardless of their age. It was invented in 1969 in Mannheim, Germany, by Dario Fontanella. He made ice cream noodles using a spätzle press and whipped cream. He topped it off with white chocolate shavings and strawberry sauce.
The key to making the best Spaghettieis is in the presentation. The long strings of ice cream are created using a special sieve nowadays, and the most common flavor is vanilla ice cream with raspberry sauce on top.
Schokoladenpudding mit Vanillesoße
You don’t need innovative ideas to create delicious desserts! Sometimes all it takes is vanilla sauce and chocolate custard. Schokoladenpudding mit Vanillesoße is a time-tested recipe that you’re likely to find on the dining table of a German household. Restaurants do not have this Chocolate Custard with Vanilla Sauce recipe on the menu.
Schokoladenpudding mit Vanillesoße is a creamy delight with chocolatey flavor. Vanilla custard or sauce adds to the deliciousness of the dessert. It can be prepared using a shop-bought powder. Chocolate is not the only custard flavor to use for this recipe. You can have strawberry, vanilla, coffee, hazelnut, etc.
Käsekuchen
German cheesecake is essentially different from any other cheesecake you’ve tried before. The ingredient used for Käsekuchen is not cheese. Instead, it’s quark, which is a cheese-like substance but softer and much lighter than any cream cheese.
Mixing the quark with eggs, sugar, milk, and vanilla flavor helps you prepare the base of Käsekuchen. If the quark does not hold shape for this cake, semolina or other thickening agents are used.
Streuselkuchen
Streuselkuchen is a crumble cake made using soft yeast dough. The first Streuselkuchen was made in the 19th century, and since then, it has become a popular German dessert. The soft yeasty bottom of the cake is topped with a crumbly, buttery, and crispy top. You can serve Streuselkuchen with icing sugar.
Streuselkuchen can be circular, or it can be baked using a tray. You’ll find that some German delis have creamy vanilla custard as a middle layer for Streuselkuchen.
Bienenstich
Bee Sting cake is a must-try German dessert for everyone. It’s a cake baked using a tray with yeast dough as a base. The cake is topped with rich buttercream, vanilla custard, or whipped cream, with a final top layer of crunchy almonds with butter and sugar or honey.
Grießpudding mit Himbeersoße
You must have figured out by now that Germans love sweet red fruits and berries for their desserts! This recipe features raspberries with Semolina Cream and is called Grießpudding mit Himbeersoße. All you need is milk and semolina to start preparing the recipe.
You must create the dish with a creamy consistency and if you want it to be thicker, add more semolina. After you’re done cooking it, you can let it cool down for a while and then add fruit. The most common are raspberries.
Bratäpfel mit Vanillesauce
Baked Apple with Vanilla Sauce is a traditional German dessert recipe with baked apples, almonds, raisins, cinnamon, and fromage frais. After baking the apple and topping it off with nuts and vanilla sauce, your house will be filled with an irresistible smell.
Bratäpfel mit Vanillesauce tastes delicious during the winter season. You can use ice cream or cream instead of vanilla sauce for the recipe.
Delicious German Cakes You Can’t Resist
German cakes may be world-famous, but which varieties are the most popular? Meet the German host Kate Müser who heads to a cake shop to find out.
Summary
With delectable flavors and sweet and savory tastes, the best German desserts are popular all over the world. They are famous for their textures and innovative flavors, making them perfect to indulge in after dinner.
German bakeries are always filled with German desserts like cakes and pastries. Most local eateries in small villages and towns in Germany serve fresh desserts for their customers. If you want to sample the authentic taste of German desserts, visit a German bakery near you, or try one of the Top German Delis in the United States!
Best German Desserts – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is the National Dessert of Germany?
Apfelstrudel, or Apple Strudel, is the national dessert of Germany. It’s usually served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. The dessert is so famous that it’s a common treat during Oktoberfest, where it’s served with dusted sugar.
What Is the Best Dessert in Germany?
Germany has many delectable desserts, but some of the best desserts are Apfelstrudel, Rote Grütze, Käsekuchen, Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, and Eierkuchen mit Apfelmus, among others.
What Kind of Cakes Are German?
German cakes are special sweet treats with fruits, poppy seeds, or nuts. Some German cakes are served with hot tea or coffee, making them perfect desserts for snack time. German cakes are often dry and dense, and they are sold as rectangular pieces in bakeries.
What Is a Famous German Cake?
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, or Black Forest Cake, is among the most famous German cakes. It’s a bit different from the black forest cake you find in the US. The cake consists of layers of chocolate cake with fresh cream filling and cherries. The cherries are soaked in Kirschwasser. The cake is decorated using cherries, cream, and chocolate shavings.
My name is Jay and I started this website to share my love of Deli Food. I am Jewish with Italian ancestry and grandparents who emigrated to the US from Poland, Russia and Turkey. This website is my celebration of the delicious flavors of international deli culture. Please feel free to send me your suggestions and feedback through the contact form.
